T

he Jakarta Transportation Agency has filed a criminal lawsuit against the Indonesian Veteran Legion (LVRI) in a dispute over a concrete road separator.

Riza Hasim, deputy chief of the agency, said Tuesday that the measure was taken after an LVRI member repeatedly removed concrete separators, blocking the entrance to the LVRI building that also houses Plaza Semanggi shopping mall in Semanggi, South Jakarta.

Riza said the lawsuit was filed on Monday afternoon at the Jakarta Police.

“We report them under Article 362 of the Criminal Code on theft to the police’s General Crime Detectives Directorate,” he said.

For the third time on Monday, members of the LVRI removed the concrete separators on a road section connecting Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Gatot Subroto.

On Monday morning, city officials placed 10 new movable concrete barriers following their removal by LVRI members last week.

“We need to take stern action against this. Let the police do their work,” Riza said.

Riza also cited a 2003 bylaw, which forbids the removal of lane separators without a permit from the transportation agency chief.

More than 30 concrete barriers were set up by city officials to prevent motorists taking a left turn on to Jl. Gatot Subroto to enter the shopping mall.

Riza said the barriers were set to smooth traffic from Jl. Sudirman to Jl. Gatot Subroto.

“The decision [to set up the barriers] was for the public’s greater good, instead of for certain parties’ advantages,” he said.

The Plaza Semanggi construction was met with criticism when it was planned in 2002. Experts had said the shopping mall would only worsen traffic on the Semanggi cloverleaf.

Separately, the head of the Jakarta Traffic Police Division, Sr. Comr. Royke Lumowa, said he supported the measure taken by the transportation agency.

“[LVRI members] have damaged state property. It is vandalism,” Royke said.

He added that even without the barriers, motorists were still not permitted to make a left turn on to Jl. Gatot Subroto to reach the LVRI Building.

“We have officials stationed there. The area is one of the city’s main traffic congestion spots,” he said.

Royke explained that the area was vulnerable to traffic tangles because there were several directions motorists could take there.

Royke said the area was one of the busiest areas in the city.

“Vehicles pass the area all day long. It only becomes quiet after midnight,” he said.

Previously, IGN Danendra, chairman of the LVRI Foundation, said the road block caused LVRI members difficulty entering the building.